A Sistersweet playlist filled with nostalgic and classic tracks which make up her musical DNA…

Uncovering new music can be a delightful experience, yet there’s something comforting about the familiar sounds which shaped any musical journey. 

Today, the dance music scene spans decades and has evolved across various generations, each phase a blend of cultural and social forces that shaped its unique sound. For instance, Thatcherism in the UK and the rise of illegal raves and acid house in the mid-90s are clear examples of how these influences manifested in the music of the time.

Today, we find ourselves coming full circle again as a new generation discovers the joy of unearthing dance classics from the past. Since the pandemic, there’s been a noticeable surge in nostalgia mining. This trend might be driven by a desire for comfort during challenging times or simply an appreciation for the timeless quality of older music. Social media channels like Ibizarecords and Fish56octagon have gained popularity by sharing their private collections of classic tracks (and some new releases), creating a novel way to discover music—or relive golden moments. As with all aspects of life, of course, the key to good musical hygiene is to strike a… um… balance.

A great example of blending nostalgia with modernity is Sistersweet’s recent Balance Selections mix. Hailing from Russia, she curated a mix consisting of contemporary bootlegs of well-known classics from Massive Attack, Deep Dish, London Grammar, and more. Check her rework of Satoshi Tomiie‘s “Love in Traffic” which stands out as a highlight.

To complement that mix, the Russian artist  shared a ten-track playlist of classic tracks that shaped her taste. She reflected, “While I prepared this playlist, I realized where my love for breaks, vocal parts, and the epic atmosphere in the breakdown of my tracks came from. It is really impossible to overestimate the contribution of these musicians to electronic dance music!” 

This track was the soundtrack to the movie Hackers (1995)—my favorite movie at that time, featuring young people, love, and clubbing. Actually, all the music for that film consists of electronic music classics, so it’s difficult for me to highlight just one. Just listen to the whole CD! 😀

This was the first track that greeted me when I first went to a nightclub. It was love at first listen. Is it a coincidence that my recent track, released on The Soundgarden label, also features breakbeat drums? 🙂

I first heard this track on MTV. They played a video featuring the guys from Deep Dish playing backgammon on the street. Ha-ha! Memory is an amazing thing! I love vocals in tracks and always include them in my production where appropriate.

Magic vocal and atmospheric arp make this track dreaming. This track has really become a classic of electronic dance music!

It was the early 2000s, and music lovers in Russia used to exchange their favorite CDs with each other back then. We would gather at a flea market on the outskirts of Moscow to listen, buy, or swap music. During one of my visits, I heard an intriguing and unusual sound—it was this amazing track from the CD Balance 005 by James Holden.

Another brilliant track I discovered through compilations from famous DJs was ‘Nothing,’ featured on the Deep Dish compilation Toronto. Honestly, this track inspired me to incorporate the reverse vocal effect into my new track, which will be released on the RKP label this winter.

I first heard this track at the famous Moscow club Zeppelin. Back then, there was no Shazam, and asking the DJ for a track ID felt like disturbing a deity. So, I was thrilled to finally find this track on the Stereo Production website. ‘Burning Paris’ has been in my playlist ever since. You know, this track was one of the reasons I wanted to become a DJ—I dreamed of creating a mix with all my favorite tracks! I achieved that dream in 2017, and you can find this mix on my SoundCloud page under the name ‘DIAMONDS.’

In the early 2000s, we received most of our information about dance music from radio broadcasts. DJs would share their latest vinyl and discuss upcoming projects. That’s how I learned about Gabriel & Dresden and their track ‘Arcadia’ from Vladimir Fonarev’s radio show Digital Emotions back in 2005.

The brilliance of the breaks sound! I discovered breaks while I was in London in 2005. I went to a music store on Oxford Street and found the CD Meat Katie – Fabric Live 21. All the tracks on that CD are awesome! Later, Meat Katie came to Moscow for a gig, and I danced sovber all night long—the style has such powerful energy! Even now, breaks are still trending, and I love incorporating breakbeat drums into my music production as well!

To be honest, I don’t remember where I first heard this track, but it feels like I was born with it. It was love at first note—the breakbeat drums, dramatic chords, and atmospheric pads make this track AMAZING! My love for Hernan Cattaneo began with this track!

Balance-Walter Balance

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